PDP Group Reaffirms Support for Senator Jarigbe As Cross River Party Leader, Cautions Pro-Sandy Onoh Group Against Repeating 2023 Mistake

PDP Group Reaffirms Support for Senator Jarigbe As Cross River Party Leader, Cautions Pro-Sandy Onoh Group Against Repeating 2023 Mistake

 

 

A youth coalition within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has reaffirmed its support for Senator Jarigbe Agom as the party’s leader in the state, while issuing a stern warning to supporters of Senator Sandy Onor not to repeat what it called the “costly political error” of the 2023 general elections.

 

The PDP Grassroots Youth Coalition Movement (PDP-GYCM), in a statement signed by its State Coordinator, Itajom I. Itajom, described the recent move by another PDP faction backing Senator Sandy Onor for state leadership as a step that risks deepening internal divisions within the party.

 

Political earthquake hits Cross River as APC, PDP, LP Members Unite behind New Coalition Party

 

The statement was a direct response to a press conference held in Abuja over the weekend by a political coalition under the aegis of the PDP Support Group, which urged Senator Onor and other PDP stalwarts to take charge and lead a “rescue mission” against the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state.

 

But the PDP-GYCM said such actions could sabotage the party’s efforts to regroup, cautioning that a lack of unity and clarity in leadership contributed significantly to the party’s loss in the 2023 gubernatorial election.

“We the members of the movement hereby re-affirm our stance by throwing our support behind Senator Jarigbe Agom, the highest-ranking elected PDP official in the state,” the group said.
“We are determined to ensure that the PDP does not repeat the near-fatal strategic errors of the 2023 election season, which resulted in a dramatic weakening of our presence in Cross River.”

The youth coalition praised Senator Jarigbe for his maturity and stabilizing role within the party, expressing confidence in his ability to guide the PDP toward a more cohesive and effective opposition.

 

The group also stressed the importance of inclusive decision-making within the party, urging all factions to avoid unilateral declarations that could undermine unity.

“To those who are in a hurry to ‘rescue’ the party, we urge patience and unity. A noble cause requires sacrifice and inclusive engagement,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the pro-Sandy group, comprising grassroots mobilization arms such as the Presidential Support Group and Youth Fronts, had earlier issued a call for Senator Onor to lead the charge against what they called the “anti-people” policies of the ruling APC in Cross River.

 

Spokesperson for the group, Mike Ekanem, lambasted the administration of Governor Bassey Otu, citing poor economic performance, infrastructure decay, and weak legislative representation. He pointed to Cross River’s poor Value Added Tax (VAT) remittance rankings as evidence of economic stagnation.

 

“Cross River has become a shadow of itself under APC misrule,” Ekanem said. “Our mission is clear – to restore competence and people-centered leadership at all levels.”

While both groups appear to share a common goal of unseating the APC from power in Cross River, they remain sharply divided over who should lead the party’s resurgence.

 

The PDP-GYCM, however, cautioned that if past mistakes are repeated—particularly the factionalism that marred the 2023 election—the party could once again find itself outmaneuvered at the polls.

  “We must learn from the past. The party will only rise again through unity, strategy, and strong leadership,” Itajom concluded.

As the PDP prepares for future elections, internal reconciliation and clarity in leadership remain critical to its success in Cross River. Whether the party can bridge the gap between its competing factions remains to be seen.